Extraordinary  Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Holidays & Guided Tours

UK citizens do not currently need a visa for trips to Ecuador of up to 90 days. Tourists can also stay in the Galapagos Islands for up to 60 days, as long as you have evidence of a hotel booking/return flight to the mainland, travel health insurance and have completed an online Galapagos transit control card at least 24 hours before your flight (cost included in our Ecuador Galapagos holidays). Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.

There are no direct flights to the Galapagos Islands, so you need to travel via Ecuador, with either an internal flight or boat trip to the Galapagos. Most visitors travel by plane from Quito or Guayaquil and then cruise around the islands from there, such as in our Ecuador: Andes, Amazon and Galapagos tour or the Ecuador and Galapagos section of our Footsteps of the Incas tour.

The unique ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands is highly protected by the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park, who constantly monitor and control visitor sites and numbers, so all tours are subject to change at their direction. There is also a $100 entrance fee to visit the islands (cost included in our Ecuador Galapagos holidays). All visitors must agree to keep at least 2 metres away from wildlife, and not touch or feed any creatures. Only take photos without flash, walk on marked trails, leave no rubbish and take nothing with you from the islands.

Much of the fabulous wildlife in the Galapagos has evolved in isolation and has little fear of humans, so you’ll see creatures here that live nowhere else on earth. Giant tortoises are one of the highlights (although you have most chance of seeing them in one of the research stations, such as the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz), the Galapagos penguin, the world’s second smallest penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, and birds including Galapagos finches, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, albatross, plus Sally Lightfoot crabs along with countless other marine creatures.

The US dollar is the official currency in Ecuador since March 2000, replacing the Sucre. Smaller denominations, including 1, 5 and 10 dollar notes, as well as coins, are usually easiest to spend. You may have trouble using notes worth $50 or above, unless you’re making a large purchase. Credit cards are also widely accepted in cities and major tourist centres, although it’s worth having some cash for small purchases and for the Galapagos Islands.

The best months to plan an Ecuador Galapagos tour depends on where you plan to visit, as well as any specific wildlife you’re hoping to see in the Galapagos Islands. On the mainland, the weather divides into hotter, wetter months from January to May while May to December is drier but cooler, and busy during school holidays. The coast can be more pleasant during the start of the year despite the rain, as it’s very humid from June onwards. The Andes are wet year-round, with cold nights and warmer days, although December to March are the wetted months. The Amazon rainforest has tropical conditions year-round, but July to December sees less rain. 

December to May is the best time to visit the Galapagos islands. The islands are warmer but wet during these months, there’s a better chance of spotting sea turtles, while you can spot mating rituals early in the year and young being born towards the end of the period. August and September have a higher chance of rough seas as its windiest during these months, but you can see more sea lion pups and giant tortoises migrating to the highlands.

The government advises against all but essential travel to parts of Ecuador, including some coastal regions and much of the border with Colombia. However, these do not affect the majority of tourists planning to visit Quito, the Andes, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands (Guayaquil airport is exempt from the advice relating to Guayas province). Otherwise, theft is the biggest risk for visitors to Ecuador, including pick-pocketing, bag snatching and distraction robberies. Avoid using ATMs after dark, and try to use machines inside banks or shopping centres. It’s best to avoid carrying more money than you need or expensive possessions. Joining a guided Ecuador Galapagos tour is a good option if you’re concerned about travelling independently, with tour leaders on the ground to help as needed, and who have a good idea of any risks.

With numerous islands to hop around, allow around a week (six nights) to explore the Galapagos Islands if possible, with plenty of variety between the different locations. You’ll need a minimum of five days to explore the archipelago, although if you have the time, it’s easy to spend as much as 10 days hopping from island to island. Taking a Galapagos cruise will also ensure you see more during your visit than doing day trips from Santa Cruz, which require more travel time.

The Galapagos Islands are unbeatable with kids who love animals, with their range of unique wildlife and chance to see these fascinating creatures up close. Many cruises will have a minimum age of around 6-8 years for children to join the ship, however, and it’s not a great option for the babies, toddlers and younger kids who need to be able to stick to marked paths, stay quiet as required and understand how to behave responsibly around the wildlife. On the mainland, there’s also fantastic trekking for active families as well as a chance to discover the world of the rainforest in the Amazon. In the cities, find colourful streets and chocolate makers, as well as lots of hands-on food experiences, plus white sand beaches to relax on after all the exploring.

There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter Ecuador unless you are arriving from Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda, when a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. Otherwise, travellers are recommended to have the usual course of vaccinations for life in their home country, including boosters. Individuals are higher risk are also recommended to have the following vaccinations: diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, rabies, tetanus, typhoid and yellow fever. There is low to no risk of malaria but other mosquito-borne diseases include dengue fever and Zika, which is most harmful for pregnant women and their unborn children, so it is important to take insect repellent.

With changing weather and wildlife throughout the year, there’s no time when you should avoid the Galapagos Islands. However, you can expect bigger crowds in the peak season of mid-December to mid-January as well as from June to August, while August and September often have rougher seas. March and April are usually the wettest months, although rainfall is usually brief even when it’s heavy, so it won’t stop you exploring the islands.

The key things to avoid on any Ecuador Galapagos tour is behaviour which might impact the fragile ecosystem you’re visiting. Don’t be tempted to ignore advice from your expert guides by leaving marked paths or getting too close to the wildlife. Avoid bringing any single-use plastic with you, as this has been restricted since 2018, and ensure you take any rubbish (plastic or otherwise) away with you. Don’t use flash photography, never touch or feed the animals, and don’t take anything away from the islands, including souvenirs if they’re made from flora, fauna or rocks from the Galapagos. Lastly, don’t plan a quick visit. This isn’t somewhere you should pass through in a couple of days – allow at least five days to explore, preferably a week.

Tipping is customary in Ecuador, although there’s no obligation to do so if you’ve received bad service. In restaurants, you’d normally expect to add around 10% to the final bill in cash. Your tour manager can advise on tips for drivers and guides; you can also find suggested amounts in our useful information sheet, which will be sent to you before you travel. Porterage is included in our Ecuador Galapagos holidays.